Terrible hip pain

[Delabruche]

Posting here for traffic as I'm at my wits' end. For the last few years I have had steadily worsening hip pain, just like I had in pregnancy but now I'm perimenopausal. It is worse during the night and often wakes me up. I've had scans and xrays and apparently nothing is wrong- but it is! Dh used to give me a lift to work on his motorbike but I find it too painful to straddle the bike now. I love walking and running but I am finding the hip pain a barrier to doing more although I would say I am still quite active. I really feel that it MUST be related to whatever happens to your hips in pregnancy but GP doesn't agree. Any advice or tips very gratefully received!

Femoroacetabular Impingement or Hip Impingement?

www.physio-pedia.com/Femoroacetabular_Impingement

See a physio, there’s lots that can be done even if nothing is showing on X-rays.

You need a dexa bone scan. X rays are often useless for hips. Fractured can be well hidden. An mri is next best.

Has the GP ruled out any gynaecological issues? Just before my hip replacement my doctor sent me for an internal scan to rule out anything else before then doing a hip X-ray that showed the hip was knackered.

And get this sorted asap. Osteoporosis is horrific and can be fatal especially with hip complications. And your menapause status could be a very timely indicator of it.

Hi op. What kind of pain is it, stabbing, deep ache, grinding, something else? Pain when moving, always there, worse when doing things? Are you hypermobile?

Thanks for ideas. It's like a really deep ache on both sides. I had a bone density scan which ironically was fine for hips but picked up osteopoenia in my back. My last gynae check up was normal. I actually have another appointment to go to with an orthopedic specialist but the waiting time is about a year and I was hoping there was something I could do in the meantime!

I hadn't heard of that but I guess I'd have to wait for the consultant appointment to ask.

It's basically always there but worse at night. I think I am hypermobile but the dr said I'm not hypermobile enough for the label - just more than average 🤔.

I have this. I was told it was bursitis orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/hip-bursitis.
I wake virtually every night with it. I have changed my walking shoes for the long dog walks which has helped but not eliminated it.

Are you vitamin D deficient? Joint pain can be much worse if you are.

Have you had an MRI scan?

This sounds like it! Do you have it on both sides? I wear a variety of shoes.

It's low but not deficient. I've been taking a supplement for months.

No. Just xray and bone density scan.

see a sports physio. mine was solved with their manipulation then both strengthening and flexibility exercises.

Could it be rheumatoid arthritis? I get it as a flare in my hips rather than my other joints. Worth a blood test.

@Delabruche This sounds like it! Do you have it on both sides? I wear a variety of shoes

No I only have it on my right side. It must be awful on both. 😫

Have you considered the pain is neuroplastic and not structural? I would try the curable app or the book The Way Out

(spoken as someone who has spent thousands trying to cure chronic hip and back pain)

I thought I had sciatica, physio had a look and diagnosed bursitis in my hip.
Sounds similar to your pain.
Got exercises and possibly a steroid injection to help - maybe a physio visit?

Have you heard of Pelvic Partnership?

I think it's possible you're suffering from Pelvic Girdle Pain. Although it's a mechanical problem that requires manual therapy from an experienced practitioner, it can play up when hormones are doing funny things.

A stork or flamingo x-ray would show misalignment. It has to be weight bearing. Google it and take it to the GP. Ask to be referred to your well woman physio or contact PP for a list of recommended practitioners.

So I get a lot of hip pain and have some hypermobility too. The worst is the pain in the side of my hip when I lie on it at night. For a while I thought it was bursitis but now I realise it's a consequence of weak and imbalanced muscles.

Pilates with a focus on core stability and strengthening glutes and freeing hip flexors helps enormously and is doing much to resolve it. If you're not done pilates before, I recommend a few 121 sessions so you learn accuracy.

I would advise a physio appointment first for diagnosis.

Forgot to say, many women tend to favour weight bearing on one side over the other.

Pilates teaches you to retrain your muscles to correct for this - a lot of physios teach pilates, so asking a physio for recommendations is a good start.

One more thing. I bought a shiatsu massager from amazon which I use on my hips when I go to bed and it really helps too.